Business Unfiltered with Laura Amigone

Do you….Find yourself on your computer scrolling, “pretend working” sometimes?Often think or stress about your business when you’re with family or friends or other times you’re technically supposed to be unplugged?   Work during vacations?The answer is yes. Because it’s yes for all of us sometimes.It’s not wrong, and you’re not a bad person or business owner if you do these things.And also?These kinds of things are THE top contributors to burnout. It’s not about doing too much work - it’s about loose or non-existent boundaries, including boundaries aroundwhen you let yourself think or worry about your business. This habit is a hard one to break.On today’s episode of The Simple Online Business podcast I talk about mental boundaries - what they are, why they matter, and most importantly - actual tips and tools to help you establish them. YOU'LL LEARN:Why there is a need for intentional time dedicated to work and non-work activitiesThe importance of mental boundaries in preventing burnout and maintaining work-life balanceHow to control your thoughts about work during non-work hoursHow to find activities that help you relax and unwind from work and why it’s importantText us and let us know what you thought of the episodeLet’s Connect! See how to work with me HERE

My client Laura started her business coaching college students in 2020 - and we’ve worked together almost the whole time! On today’s episode of the Simple Online Business Podcast I have an unfiltered chat with Laura to show you about what it’s really like to grow a business. We talk about networking vs social media for marketing, balancing business and being a mom, tailoring your strategy to your business and goals and why having your own business if the best job out there. We covered a lot of ground, and I think every single business owner will find something they needed in this conversation. (Once you listen, I’d love to hear what it was for you!)YOU’LL LEARN:How it’s ok and normal (and HELPFUL) to sometimes peek at other jobs out there when business feels hardHow aligning personal values and business priorities lead to a more fulfilling and successful careerWhy your strategy has to be tailored to your business & goals (and what that really looks like)How to balance business growth with family life About Laura:Laura has dedicated the past 20 years to guiding high school and college students towards success. Her journey began as a teacher in the Bronx, sparking her passion for empowering young adults. Transitioning to college admissions counseling, Laura aided students in accessing higher education. After earning a Master's in Counseling, she spent a decade as a guidance and college counselor, assisting students and families through the complexities of high school and the college application process.Recognizing the need for ongoing support, Laura shifted focus to college students facing the inevitable challenges that come with college. Through personalized coaching, she addresses academic, professional, and social struggles, teaching and practicing essential time management and career planning skills. As a Certified Sparketype Advisor, Laura brings this simple and effective career tool to her clients to help them design their unique pathway to sparked work. Her clients report improved grades, heightened optimism, increased self-confidence, and reduced stress.Additionally, Laura extends her expertise to high school audiences, bringing many of the same skills and concepts that she uses with her college clients to help younger students prepare for success in college. Through engaging presentations, she conveys her belief in students' potential for long term success, long after college admissions. When she is not working with students, she manages the fun of five kids, with love, laughter, lots of driving and dishes, and getting outdoors!Learn more about Laura HEREText us and let us know what you thought of the episodeLet’s Connect! See how to work with me HERE

Day Trading Attention by Gary Vaynerchuk just came out, and I received so many requests to do a review of it for all of you and share the highlights. On today’s episode of the Simple Online Business podcast, I talk through my top takeaways and lessons from the book to help you be more successful with your social media and marketing. You’re going to enjoy this one a lot. YOU'LL LEARN:The importance of social media for business ownersHow to connect with your audience through content creationWhy you must be consistent and patient with your content strategyHow to experiment with trends, industry hot topics, and new platform featuresHow to address the challenge of adapting to constantly changing social media platforms and evolving marketing strategies without losing your focus and directionText us and let us know what you thought of the episodeLet’s Connect! See how to work with me HERE

Last week while coaching, I had a lightning bolt of inspiration hit me - I coached several clients in Booked Out Business, and in the middle of one was like… I need to make a podcast about this! And they were like YES. So right after the call, I jotted down a few notes and hopped on the mic to record this episode for you… wrecking my podcast schedule a little bit but it is WORTH IT. On this week’s episode of the Simple Online Business podcast, I walk you through 3 coaching questions that I asked, and why you should be answering these questions if you want to get different results in your business. I also open up the episode with a conversation about hustle vs ease, the nuance that’s needed in the conversation, and how things have shifted in 2024.Required listening for every business owner, especially those who want to be making more right now. YOU’LL LEARN: How you can find the balance between hustle and ease in your businessThe most effective mindset shift for business success in 2024The importance of self-awareness and honesty about personal goals and willingness to put in the effortWhat factors affect the time and effort required to build a successful businessText us and let us know what you thought of the episodeLet’s Connect! See how to work with me HERE

A few weeks ago, I was having a meeting with Brenna, my COO and sister. We are in the process of moving platforms (from Ontraport to Kajabi), so she was cleaning up the Booked Out Business portal and looking through stats. And then she said….The clients who log into the portal regularly are the clients who get the best results. Maybe that seems like a “duh” moment - but to have such a clear piece of evidence of it still surprised me. Just the act of showing up regularly to stay engaged with the program and coaching was strongly correlated to that person getting results. On this week’s episode of the Simple Online Business podcast, I invited Brenna on to talk about it and share our thoughts with you about how to leverage the power of showing up. YOU'LL LEARN:How just showing up can dramatically transform your businessThe importance of client engagement and the impact on resultsHow to find consistency and take manageable action in your businessWhy dedicating time to work strategically on your business can have lasting effectsThe surprising relation between client participation and burnoutText us and let us know what you thought of the episodeLet’s Connect! See how to work with me HERE

There are two extremes when it comes to thinking about investing in your business:The folks who are like “just say no!” and think everything labeled as a business investment is a scam. And…The folks who think the more you invest, the more you make, automatically - and that the transformation is in the transaction, regardless of what happens next. Obviously, we can both see that these are wrong and too extreme. The reality is in the middle - as usual. On today’s episode of the Simple Online Business podcast, I’ll be talking about the nuance of investing in your business, and the kind of mentality I bring to my own investment decisions. I’ll talk through my own tendency to underinvest, what overinvesting is, and my questions and considerations to help you make smart investment decisions for your business. No matter what phase of business you are in, I highly recommend you listen to this one.You'll Learn:How to rethink your approach to investing in your business.A framework for making smart investments, including identifying specific goals and the gaps that need to be filledThe importance of understanding one's risk tolerance and how it impacts decision-makingText us and let us know what you thought of the episodeLet’s Connect! See how to work with me HERE

I can guarantee you one thing: you don’t have time for your business to be complicated.Recently I was coaching a few clients who were feeling stressed about the amount of things they want to do to grow their businesses - and having limited time to do those things.The reason is that it’s incredibly easy to hear what’s working for other people, what successful people have done, etc, and think “oh I need to do that too.”The thing is… that thing might not work for you. ·      It might make you want to run away from your business just thinking about it. ·      It might not be the thing that fits your personality. ·      It might not work for your ideal client or industry. Not every successful tip or strategy will be successful for YOU, your business, your people. And the more you try to do - the more complicated it becomes - the worse off your business is.On today’s episode of the Simple Online Business podcast, I’m talking about how I learned the power of simplicity first hand in two different volunteer roles, and the 3 rules of simplicity for your business.YOU’LL LEARN:Why making your business simple isn't as simple as it soundsHow to focus on results rather than tasks and processesWhy it’s important to build on what has already worked and customize your business planHow to embrace change and seize opportunities to evolve and grow your businessText us and let us know what you thought of the episodeLet’s Connect! See how to work with me HERE

Have you ever wondered:Should this content be free? Or only for clients?How much do I give away for free?Where do I draw the line between what’s free and what isn’t?Many of my clients ask these questions, and honestly, I struggled with this earlier in my business too. While it is one of those things you learn through experience and eventually find where your personal line is - I want to share my lessons and secrets with you and help you save time not learning things the hard way. On today’s episode of the Simple Online Business podcast, I’m breaking down some ways to think about what to offer for free and what to reserve for clients. I’m also discussing the challenge of setting boundaries when it comes to free value. I know you’re going to love this one.YOU’LL LEARN:How to find the right balance between providing value free content and growing your businessHow free content can build a sustainable businessThe importance of offering valuable free content to build trust and relationships with your audienceHow to set clear boundaries when offering free and paid contentText us and let us know what you thought of the episodeLet’s Connect! See how to work with me HERE

These are two major myths that are often talked about in the entrepreneurial world:Marketing = social mediaYou have to be on social media to get clients. Listen… I’m a huge proponent of social media. For all the flaws, it gives us access to SO MANY connections with new people, for free. Yep, it takes work. But it’s also such an advantage for beginning business owners. And while I’m usually giving you tips on how to connect with people on social media - today I want to introduce you to a whole other world of possibilities… growing a business without using it. On today’s episode of The Simple Online Business Podcast I'm chatting with my client Shannon, who recently had her first 10k month without building an audience on social media, about her inspiring journey of embracing change and discovering the freedom entrepreneurship brings. We talk about how she got started, the obstacles she’s overcome and the power of coaching and community in business growth.YOU’LL LEARN:How effectively communicating with teams and clients about workload and availability can positively impact a business's growth and successWhy setting boundaries and seeking support are important pillars of business success.Why building a strong team and creating a supportive work environment is the key to sustained growthLearn more about Shannon:Shannon is the CEO of Lifetime Stress Relief, a virtual assistance & online business management company that specializes in email & calendar management, preventing overwhelm and burnout, and developing systems to save time. Yes, we research refrigerators and check emails, but we also save time for life on our clients' calendars, act as a gatekeeper between customers, and remember the special dates in our clients' lives. When not working, Shannon loves to travel and be outside with her puppy, Ruby Tuesday, painting, surfing, or reading!Visit her website hereText us and let us know what you thought of the episodeLet’s Connect! See how to work with me HERE

Last fall, I had a coaching conversation with my client, Brittany. She had been trying to consistently sign coaching clients for a couple years, but it just wasn’t working. She had an offer, a website, decent social media engagement… and yet it just wasn’t turning into paying clients. Almost immediately on our conversation, I realized the issue. I told her what I saw, and what to do differently. She implemented this advice and started signing lots of clients right away. She’s been consistently signing clients ever since. What I found interesting is that she mentioned to me that she had thought about working with me a couple years before but didn’t - and wished she didn’t wait. On today’s episode, I have Brittany on to talk about our conversation, the advice I gave her, and the decision to invest in coaching with me. This episode is a fun look into what it’s actually like to be my client. This podcast episode will be super inspiring for any business owner. YOU’LL LEARN:How to transition from a brick-and-mortar business to the online spaceWhy people struggle with finding the right offer and marketing services and how to fix thisHow to be successful in signing clients and managing a growing businessThe importance of belief and confidence in your businessLearn About Brittany:Brittany Hagemann is a licensed CA Esthetician turned Esthetician Business Coach. After opening her acne business in San Diego in 2017, she grew it to a six figure business in under two years. She currently helps other esthetician business owners grow their business to six figures and beyond. When she's not working with her clients, she's spending time with her daughter and husband.Visit her website hereFollow her on InstagramListen to here podcast here: Estheticians Earning MoreText us and let us know what you thought of the episodeLet’s Connect! See how to work with me HERE